While the collars are designed not to hinder the cheetah's movement, they can sometimes pose obstructions.
The combination of collar chafing and moisture from the monsoon season, which South African cheetahs are not accustomed to, may have prevented the cheetah from cleaning itself properly, allowing parasites to enter the wound.
Some experienced forest officers state that radio-collaring is a common practice in India for lions, tigers, leopards, and elephants, and it has not been linked to such infections in the past.
There is a hypothesis that the wound exposed the African cheetah to parasites that Indian big cats are typically resistant to.
However, the Environment Ministry dismissed these suggestions as hearsay without scientific evidence.
An expert committee has recommended conducting a thorough physical examination of all surviving cheetahs, including removing their collars, taking tissue samples, and checking for parasites.
This investigation will require capturing and examining all the free-ranging cheetahs, which will be a lengthy and laborious process.
The outcome of this investigation will significantly impact the future of the cheetah project in India.
Officials claim that the Kuno reserve has sufficient space and prey for cheetahs.
Plans are underway to develop a second reserve in Gandhisagar, Madhya Pradesh, and establish a cheetah rehabilitation center.
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